The Name Clause:: Private Company
The Name Clause:: Private Company
The Name Clause:: Private Company
• too identical or similar to the name of another existing company or firm (whether
registered or unregistered) so as to lead to confusion (British Vacuum Cleaner Co.
vs. New Vacuum Cleaner Co. Ltd., 1907). The reason for this rule is that the
reputation of a company may be injured, if a new company adopts an allied name;
or
• The objects of the company must not be illegal, e.g., to carry on the business of
lottery.
• They must not be against the provisions of the Companies Act, such as buying its
own shares (Sec. 77), declaring dividend out of capital, etc.
• They must not be against public policy, e.g., to carry on trade with an enemy
country.
• They must be quite elaborate also. Not only the main objects, but the subsidiary or
incidental objects too should be stated because it is very difficult to alter them.
The narrower the objects expressed in the memorandum, the less is the
subscriber's risk, but the wider such objects the greater is the security of those
who transact business with the company. It is, therefore, of utmost importance
that the objects clause be drafted with the greatest care.
After the passing of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1965, the objects clause of a
company, to be registered after the amendment, i.e., after 15th October 1965, must be
divided into two sub-clauses:
• The main objects. Under this sub-clause the main objects to be pursued by the
company on its incorporation and objects incidental or ancillary to the attainment
of the main objects must be stated.
• Other objects. Under this sub-clause other objects of the company not included in
the above clause must be stated [Sec. 13(l)(d)].
In the case of 'non-trading companies' the objects clause should also mention the names
of those States to whose territories the objects of a company will extend. The main
objects shall be pursued by the company immediately on its incorporation. But if a
company wishes to start a business included in other objects, it shall have to obtain either
the authority of a special resolution or an ordinary resolution and Central Government's
sanction. Similarly, when an existing company [i.e., a company in existence before the
commencement of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1965] wants to commence any new
business, which though included in its objects, is not closely related to the business which
it has been carrying on at the commencement of the Amendment Act, it shall also have to
pass either a special resolution or an ordinary resolution together with Central
Government permission.
In addition to the above, the secretary or a director must file with the Registrar, a decla-
ration that the requirement as to resolution, etc., has been complied with. It must,
however, be observed that by virtue of this provision additional protection has been
provided to the shareholders of the company because now the management cannot risk
the, capital of the company in entirely new projects, without giving any notice to them,
under the pretext of pursuing objects subsidiary or incidental to the main objects.
Implied powers Further, apart from the powers expressly provided in the objects clause, a
trading company has also certain implied powers. These are: (i) to borrow money; (ii) to
act by agents; (iii) to compromise disputes; and (iv) to mortgage or sell land. In general it
may be said that a company authorized by its objects clause to carry on the business of
making and selling cotton textiles would possess implied powers for the purpose of
carrying on that business, to purchase or take on lease premises for factories, warehouses,
offices and shops, to engage employees, to borrow money and so on; because all these
matters are fairly incidental (naturally attached) to the carrying out of the company's main
objects.
4. The liability clause :
The clause states that the liability of members is limited, to the amount, if any, unpaid on
their shares. If the memorandum so provides, the liability of the directors may be un-
limited (Sec. 322). If it is proposed to register the company limited by guarantee, this
clause will state the amount which every member undertaking contribute to the assets of
the company in the event of of its winding up. A company registered with unlimited
liability need not give this clause in its memorandum of association.
5. The capital clause :
Every limited company (whether limited -by shares or whether limited by guarantee),
having a share capital must state the amount of its share capital with which the company
is proposed to be registered and the division thereof into shares of a fixed denomination,
in this clause. It is usually expressed as follows: "The share capital of the company is Rs
10,00,000 divided into 1,00,000 shares” of Rs 10 each.''
This capital is variously described as "registered", "authorized" or "nominal" capital and
the stamp duty is payable on this amount. There is no legal limit to the amount of share
capital or of each share. It may be any amount running into crores of rupees and the
denomination of each share may be rupee one or rupees one thousand. The amount of
authorized capital should be sufficiently high so that further issue of shares may easily be
done to finance the expanding business. It is optional for a company to state the divisions
of the authorized capital into different glasses of shares, if any, and the rights of various
classes of shareholders in this clause. Usually such details are described in the articles of
the company.
Note that an unlimited company having a share capital, is not required to have the capital
clause in its memorandum. In the case of such a company Section 27 (1) provides that the
amount of share capital with which the company is to be registered must be stated in the
articles of association of the company.
6. The association or subscription clause.
Under this clause we have the declaration of association", which is made by the
signatories of the memorandum under their signatures duly attested by witness that they
desire to be formed into a company and that they agree to the purchase qualification
shares, if any. Each subscriber must take at least one share.
The statement reads as follows: "We, the several persons whose names and addresses are
subscribed, are desirous of being formed into a company in pursuance to the
Memorandum of Association and we agree to take the number of shares in the capital of
the company shown against our names," There must be at least seven signatories in case
of a public company and at least two in case of a private company. The subscribers
usually act as first directors of the company. In the case of a company which is limited by
guarantee or is having unlimited liability, and which has no share capital, the legal
provision regarding the purchase of at least one share by each subscriber does not apply.
Above mentioned clauses are referred to as the compulsory clauses of the memorandum
as per Section 13. Other provisions relating to Managing Director or Manager, etc., may
also be given in the memorandum but they can be altered in the same manner as the
articles of the company
2 Company registration in India is regulated by the Companies Act, 1956
and is administered by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA - www.mca.gov.in)
through the Offices of Registrar of Companies (ROC) in each State.
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